Can never connect when setting up new laptop

Ok, this has happened twice.

I get a laptop to set up in my house (which has wireless and ethernet connections) and even with ethernet plugged in it will not connect to a network. I have to use my mobile hotspot from my phone to get internet, and update the drivers.


What if I didn't have a hotspot? How would I be able to connect to the internet? This happened with my mothers computer and my friends, yesterday. He needed a clean install, updates, etc and this happened again, not sure what is going on, and why I need an external internet source to update the drivers, why wouln't ethernet work?

ThrashZone said:

Depends on your wired and wireless network setup,
Either would be interpreted as a invader,
Why can't I access my homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-access-my-homegroup
Why can't I join a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-can-t-I-join-a-homegroup
Why can't I create a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-create-a-homegroup
HomeGroup from start to finish
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish
File sharing essentials
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-sharing-essentials
Share files with someone
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-files-with-someone
Setting up a home network
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/setting-up-a-home-network
Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy
http://www.home-network-help.com/
Windows Vista Tip: How To Setup And Connect To A Wireless Network
http://www.watchingthenet.com/windows-vista-tip-how-to-setup-and-connect-to-a-wireless-network.html

Wheever I tried to connect to anything (other than my phone) it wouldn't even give me homegroup or network options until I updatred the drivers, which I wouldn't have been able to if I didn't have a mobile hotspot.

Some network problem I solved with the CMD. Don't know if it will work here but always good to have handy.

ipconfig /release
ENTER
ipconfig /renew
ENTER
Exit

ThrashZone said:

I suppose the only trick is to enter your wireless network first/ with password when prompted for it.
The same way a cellphones trying to enter a secure wifi network anywhere,
Many new computers come with junkware/ the worst is the pre-installed security suites on them,
What third party security do the existing machines have and what is coming pre-installed ?
More information about your wired and wireless network is needed to be able to say what is really going on/ out of date drivers I doubt would hamper entering a wifi network.

That is the problem, I Was never given an option to connect to anything, so I couldn' have put in the passkey. I will, however, try to CMD thing it is just weird that this is 2 laptops in a row

ThrashZone said:

You would need to first search for available wifi networks,
Laptop are not by default set to find and ask you if you want to enter wifi networks/ most cell phones are.

How, when I go into network and sharing center and try and connect to a network, nothing available.